Yakis: We Expressed Our Determination To Fulfill Copenhagen Criteria

ANKARA - Turkey-the European Union (EU) Troika meeting ended.
Following the meeting, a joint press conference was held.
Speaking at the press conference, Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said, ''at the meeting, we have reached compromise that the Accession Partnership Accord to be released by the EU Commission in April should be prepared clearly to prevent any differences of interpretations.''
''We expressed our determination to fulfill Copenhagen criteria in 2003 to start accession talks. We asked the EU to explain clearly deficiencies in fundamental rights and freedoms in the Accession Partnership Accord. We also requested the EU to increase its financial assistance to Turkey. We noted that we attributed great importance to explanation of Turkey's future membership to public opinions of both Turkey and the EU countries,'' he added.
Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis; Foreign Minister George Papandreou of Greece, the current term president of the EU; Prime Minister Franco Frattini of Italy, the next term president of the EU; EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen and high-level diplomats were in attendance at the meeting.
YAKIS: ANY ATTACK ON TURKEY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AN ATTACK ON NATO
Yakis told a press conference that there was not any contradiction between Turkey's demand for NATO's support and its initiatives regarding Iraq. He said that those two things were complementary elements.
Yakis said that NATO would lose its credibility if it did not extend assistance to Turkey against possibility of Iraq's attack on Turkey.
Stance of the EU was to put pressure on Iraq, Yakis noted. Yakis stated that every kind of pressure should be exerted on Iraq for a solution other than a war. One of that pressure was military preparations, he added.
Yakis pointed out that there was a parallelism between policies of Turkey and the EU towards Iraq.
Narrowing of the military circle around Iraq could direct Iraqi leadership to a peaceful solution of the issue, Yakis added.
YAKIS: I WILL DISCUSS PAPANDREOU'S CYPRUS PROPOSAL WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS
Pointing out the importance of reaching a solution till the end of February regarding Cyprus question, Yakis said Ankara encouraged Turkish Cypriots for such a compromise. He also said this was an opportunity that should be evaluated for a compromise.
Foreign Minister Yakis said he would convey the proposal of Greek Foreign Minister Papandreou to discuss the U.N. plan also by countries guarantor to Cyprus, to senior officials.
Pointing out that morning talks were ''beneficial'', Papandreou said they once again voiced that Turkey would expend support to the EU perspective.
Stating that the reforms that would be made in Turkey would have a great influence on this process, Papandreou said it would be easier to make a decision after covering the implementations. Papandreou said the reforms would not only be beneficial to the EU process but to Turkish people.
Papandreou said solution of Cyprus question has great importance for all the sides, stating that the U.N. plan should also be discussed by Turkey and Greece as the guarantor countries. Papandreou said they were ready for bilateral talks when both sides are ready for security arrangements on Cyprus issue.
Papandreou said they would be in close contact with Turkey on Iraqi issue, and mentioned the importance of regional stability. Papandreou said a peaceful solution should be found within the framework of the U.N. resolutions, and noted that Greece understood the concerns of Turkey.
Meanwhile EU Commisioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said a chapter would take place in new Accession Partnership Accord, which is expected to be completed in April, regarded with the role of the army in politics.
Verheugen said short, medium and long terms would not be included in the new Accession Partnership Accord.
Stating that they discussed in details what would be the road in front of Turkey, Verheugen said they reached an agreement on an open political map.
Verheugen mentioned the importance of implementation of reforms for the progress of Turkey in EU process, and stated that necessary support would be exerted to Turkey in this process.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said they strongly supported Turkey's EU process.
Frattini said they wanted a peaceful solution also to Iraqi issue, stating that international community should send a very strong message to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.